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Maritime traffic specialization and environmental health impacts in European port cities

Author

Listed:
  • César Ducruet
  • Mariantonia Lo Prete
  • Magali Dumontet
  • Barbara Polo Martin
  • Charbel ALKHOURY
  • Ling Sun
  • Sheng Zhang

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of multiple vessel traffics on air pollution and public health in European port cities. A sample of 120 Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) is analysed over the period 2000-2019, confronting container, cruise, liquid bulk, and solid bulk traffic with environmental (emissions of CO², PM2.5, NO²), public health (life expectancy, mortality rate), and socio-economic features like population density and GDP per inhabitant. Results from the fixed effects model show that population density is the major cause of all pollutions, followed by GDP and solid bulks, while life expectancy and mortality are mainly influenced by the nature of the local socio-economic environment (population density, age, GDP, bed rates, educational level). This is complemented by a factor analysis and a hierarchical clustering, which reveal the existence of three types of port cities: critical, tourism, and metropolitan. The typology of port cities is further discussed based on ground observation in particular sites.

Suggested Citation

  • César Ducruet & Mariantonia Lo Prete & Magali Dumontet & Barbara Polo Martin & Charbel ALKHOURY & Ling Sun & Sheng Zhang, 2026. "Maritime traffic specialization and environmental health impacts in European port cities," EconomiX Working Papers 2026-5, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    • Handle: RePEc:drm:wpaper:2026-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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